Nov 6, 1998 - Decision Making; Educational Change; Elementary Education;. *Elementary School Teachers ..... held masters degrees. The distribution of the ...
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Klecker, Beverly M.; Loadman, William E. Empowering Elementary Teachers in Restructuring Schools: Dimensions To Guide the Mission. 1998-11-06 27p.; Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Mid-South Educational Research Association (New Orleans, LA, November 6, 1998). Speeches/Meeting Papers (150) Research (143) Reports MF01/PCO2 Plus Postage. Decision Making; Educational Change; Elementary Education; *Elementary School Teachers; Public Schools; *School Restructuring; Self Efficacy; *Teacher Attitudes; *Teacher Empowerment; Teacher Role Ohio
ABSTRACT
Teacher empowerment is a cornerstone of educational reform efforts. This study'measured dimensions of teacher empowerment with a census of the 3,677 teachers in 169 Ohio public elementary schools initiating self-designed state-funded restructuring. Mailed surveys examined six dimensions of teacher empowerment (decision-making, professional growth, status, self-efficacy, autonomy, and impact) . A total of 1,888 teachers (51 percent) in 108 elementary schools (64 percent) completed and returned the surveys. Teachers rated their overall empowerment 3.93 on a 5-point Likert-type scale. Dimensional ratings were status (4.17), professional growth (4.29), self-efficacy (4.21), decision making (3.50), impact (3.69), and autonomy (3.38). There were no statistically significant differences in rating of empowerment by race/ethnicity or academic degree held. The finding of no difference in teachers' ratings of empowerment "across years of teaching experience" indicates that programs to increase skills and knowledge should be implemented at both preservice and inservice levels. Differences in ratings by gender suggest that educating elementary school teachers may require gender-specific guidelines. (Contains 29 references.) (SM)
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Empowering Elementary Teachers
Running head: EMPOWERING ELEMENTARY TEACHERS
Empowering Elementary Teachers in Restructuring Schools: Dimensions to Guide the Mission Beverly M. Klecker Eastern Kentucky University William E. Loadman The Ohio State University
Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Mid-South Educational Research Association New Orleans, LA November 6, 1998
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Empowering Elementary Teachers
1
Abstract
Teacher empowerment is a cornerstone of educational reform efforts. The purpose
of this study was to measure dimensions of teacher empowerment with a census of the 3,677 teachers in 169 Ohio public elementary schools initiating selfdesigned state-funded restructuring. Mailed survey returns were received from 1,888 teachers (51%) in 108 elementary schools (64%). Teachers rated their
overall empowerment 3.93 on a 5-point Likert-type scale (1=SD to 5=SA). Dimensional ratings were: Status (4.17), Professional Growth (4.29), SelfEfficacy (4.21), Decision-Making (3.50), Impact (3.69) and Autonomy (3.38). Statistically significant (R
